30 Jan 2018

South West Fly Fair Returns to Roadford Lake for its Fifth Consecutive Year

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A must go event in the West Country Angling Calendar

The South West Fly Fishing Fair will be held at Lakeside, Roadford Lake for its fifth consecutive year on Saturday 24 February, 10.00am – 4.00pm. This event, sponsored by Cortland UK, has become a regular fixture in the West Country’s angling calendar as anglers prepare for the start of a new fishing season. Each year the event has built on the success of the previous Fly Fair and the 2018 show will be bigger and better again!

The show will be opened at 10.00am by one of the country’s most respected fly-fishing gurus, and Patron of the show, Charles Jardine. There will be fly-tying demonstrations from both local and nationally renowned experts, with a chance to ‘have a go’, as well as the opportunity to pick up useful tips and valuable advice.

Other activities throughout the day include casting demonstrations, fly casting lessons and clinics for both newcomers to the sport and experienced anglers feeling a little rusty after the closed season as well as casting competitions and the opportunity to try float-tubing or kayak fishing!

There will be Trout cooking demonstrations and a variety of live Trout for people to view including Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout and Blue Trout.

Trade stands will be selling tackle and equipment at bargain prices and there will also be rod making demonstrations.

The introduction of a second hand tackle sale was very popular in 2016 with anglers bringing their unwanted equipment along and having it sold on their behalf. This will be taking place again in 2018.

It’s a terrific event and the only one of its kind in the South West!

Entry is only £3.00 for adults and under 18s go free. The bar will be open for refreshments throughout the day and parking will be free.

For more information please contact Ben Smeeth by calling South West Lakes Trust on 01566 771930 or email [email protected].

28 Jan 2018

Stafford Moor Carp Catch Round up

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(Below) Leon Vledder  fished on swim 6 the Rhododendron Bush swim on Beattie’s lake to land a 23lb mirror fishing with Sticky Baits 16mm Manilla boilies.

(Below)Jason shipway caught six carp out up to 19lb from the inlet swim on Beattie’s lake using Mainline cell Boilies.

(Below) Lewis clarke  had this 19lb 14oz catch from the beach swim on Beattie’s lake using
C C Moore live system 10mm pop up it was Lewis’s first time here. Lewis was here with dad Alan Clarke.

28 Jan 2018

Combe Martin SAC Winter Rover

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Dan Welch secured victory in Combe Martin SAC’s Winter Rover landing a specimen spurdog of 12lb 3oz ( Above)

In runner up spot was Matt Jeffery with a specimen bull huss of 10lb 13oz(Below). Matt also took third place with a spurdog of 8lb 4oz.

Several conger were also landed to 15lb along with rockling and dogfish.

 

 

 

A double figure conger (Above)

The end of competition meeting was held at Cook Island and proved to be a great venue with friendly banter and in depth discussion on the weekends fishing and tactics.

28 Jan 2018

Anglers embark on Beach Clean to show they care

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I joined seven members of Bideford & District Angling Club at Clovelly this morning to carry out a beach clean of the foreshore and harbour area. Following issues with angling related litter Bideford Club were determined to show that anglers do care and condemn those who drop litter and tarnish the majority of anglers who do take their litter home. In all we collected 16 bags of rubbish of which I would estimate 1% was angling related. The vast majority of the litter was plastic and its long levity was illustrated quite starkly by this old Ski Yogurt pot that  I googled to find it probably began its life in the mid 70’s.

Children’s plastic toys were also abundant along with plenty of household containers. Some of the debris has undoubtedly come from waste that had been dumped on the cliff-side by villagers in times gone by to be dislodged as the cliffs subside and the sea pounds the upper foreshore. Giving up a couple of hours to pick up the unsightly waste from the foreshore brings home the immensity of the plastic and waste issue that is caused by our modern lifestyle. There is a minority of anglers who add to this problem with their own debris but society has a big problem as could be seen as I drove home along the Atlantic highway with its littered verges.

Fishing line was amongst a small amount of angling related litter that included a couple of frozen bait wrappers.
Litter picking

 

Plastics and other debris dislodged as the cliff subsides.

 

 

26 Jan 2018

Otters – A controversial issue!

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Otters have become a controversial topic within the angling world with the reintroduction of the species into areas where their numbers have dwindled proving disastrous in some instances. I have no expertise in this area so can only give my own views and feelings without any scientific facts. I have seen otters on the rivers around North Devon on many occasions and I am always thrilled when I glimpse them as they hunt the river. Otters have been present on North Devon rivers for many years and have a big place in peoples hearts this is in part due to literature like Henry Williamson’s famous tome “Tarka the Otter” and the film ‘Ring of Bright Water’.

I believe that wild otters are part of North Devon’s natural Eco-system and belong as the damage they do on the river is acceptable. Sadly eel numbers have plummeted as have salmon and sea trout numbers and this undoubtedly forces the otters to look elsewhere for food. When they find a lake stocked with big meaty fish like carp they undoubtedly feel that they have stumbled upon a natural bounty. The fact that a specimen carp can be worth several thousand pounds is of no consequence to the otter. To the fishery owner an otter visit can be devastating which is why responsible fishery owners are investing thousands of pounds in building otter fences around their lakes.

The River Torridge – otters natural habitat

Anglers Paradise are investing many thousands into the building of an otter proof fence to protect the valuable stock within their lakes.

See post below from Anglers Paradise.

PROTECTING ANGLERS PARADISE
Sadly, with the ever increasing threat of Otters being released in the UK, means that all Fisheries need to take action in protecting their stock.
We have commenced work on our Otter Fence which will protect the Anglers Paradise Lakes, it’s a BIG job but we have had to do it for the future of Anglers Paradise.

Otter Fence
Construction on the Otter fence has progressed. The fence now runs from the Trout Lake to Easy Access Lake and beyond, a mammoth project in order to protect our stock from Otters and other predators. Evidence of Otter damage is a constant reminder that the population has soared in recent years.
The fence should hopefully be completed within the next couple of weeks.

Anglers Paradise
26 Jan 2018

Forty-Six Nine – Furzebray Carp!

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Paul “Percy” Leamy smashed his personal best whilst fishing at Furzebray Carp Lake  setting a new lake record at the same time when he banked Charlotte at a massive 46lb 9oz from Jezzers!!! Fishery owner/ manager Tony Kingdon stated “She was looking in great condition and has held a fantastic weight through the winter, lets hope this mild weather continues and drags them out there winter slumber and onto the food!!! Well done Paul on a fantastic capture”.